Welcome to the Mobilization and Deployment online forum.This is a definitive place for all members of the Army Family, which includes all Soldiers(Active, Guard, and Reserve)and Army Civilians and their spouses,children, parents,and extended family and friends,to seek information, ask questions and share their concerns about mobilization and deployment in a community environment.Thank you for stopping by and we welcome the opportunity to answer your questions and to hear about your experiences.

At times, it can appear, with all the focus on military Families that single Soldiers are on their own. However, every Soldier has a family, including single Soldiers. All Soldiers and Family members are encouraged and welcome at all Family Readiness events and programs. A single Soldier's Family may be made up of parents and siblings, their children, a fiancé, a close friend or a variety of other combinations all of whom care and support the Soldier.

There are several programs and materials specifically for single Soldiers. The Deployment Cycle Readiness Handbook has a single Soldier Pre-Deployment Checklist, the Strong Bonds program has Strong Bonds for Single Soliders, and the National Guard Yellow Ribbon has a Single Soldier Reintegration Program.

While we have highlighted a few resources, we want to know how we can better help our single Soldiers and their Families during the deployment cycle. Please take a minute to share your concerns, suggestions, and comments on how Family Programs can improve our service and assistance to single Soldiers and their Families. We look forward to hearing from you.

As a mother of three soldiers, I do agree that the Single Soldiers and families are left out when it comes to families being prepared. Most times the single soliders are stationed several miles away from their families. My single soldier is stationed at Fort Drum, NY and I live in Oklahoma. Attending the meetings and trainings in NY is impossible. Most meetings and training events for families are held during the week days and prevents any family members from attending. Would it be possible for the parents of the single solider to attend a video conference of the training events? It wouldn't necessarily have to be a video it could just be a conference call that parents could call and listen to the presentation. Allow the parents to attend training at a base that is closer. Training and information needs to be more accessible for the parents. For the most part, parents do not have the information given to them and most parents would do more and be there if they had additional information.
Also, add single solider parents to a call list. Currently, most companies have a call list for the spouses. I have been encouraging my youngest soldiers company to start a parent call list. Most times, the single soliders are standing at the deployment events by themselves and they need their families support through all events. Single soliders are placed in barracks and seem to be forgotten. When we visit we have to rent hotels, as we do not have the luxury of staying with the soldiers. Most parents can not attend the deployment activites due to the cost included in travel and accommodations.
Help these single soldiers! Don't let them feel that they are forgotten. Single soldiers are very lonely and need their family by their side.
Proud Army Mom of 3! Michelle White - Oklahoma...[More]